The next day, Sergeant York and the 82nd Division really became the focus of attention of the American people. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info hero-worshipping Americans became very interested in Sergeant York, a super-soldier who could take out 21 Germans with 20 bullets. Even the 82nd Division, the "GI March" Bradley, and the "veteran who returned to the 82nd Division" Swain were also famous.

But that's just the beginning. For the next few days, Colonel Pope was bombarded by several media outlets every day. As his name appeared more and more in the coverage, Pope began to get tired of it, and for the time being, he turned his attention away from John.

On April 3, some media broke the news again that Warner had obtained the authorization of Sergeant York and would bring his legendary experience to the big screen. The film will be directed by Hollywood director Howard Hawkes, Oscar-winning winner Gary Cooper, best supporting actor Walter Brennan has been confirmed, and Joan Leslie in "The Three Brodell Sisters" is expected to play the heroine of the film.

Then a Hollywood veteran revealed to the media that the film has received strong support from the US military, and the army will provide the crew with 600 sets of equipment for the US Expeditionary Force during World War I for free. As soon as the news came out, "Sergeant York" became even more popular, and even those Americans who usually did not care much about current affairs began to take an interest in it.

At the White House press conference the next day, even President Roosevelt's press secretary, Earle, was pressed about the matter by the media. Earley confirmed to the media that in addition to providing the necessary "props" for the crew, the army will also send famous military history experts to assist in the creation of the script, and the film is expected to be released on October 7 this year, the 22nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Argonne Forest Encounter (Sergeant York's famous battle).

Earley also emphasized that he hopes to use this film to remind all Americans that peace, freedom, and democracy belong only to those who are willing to fight for it. Call on the new generation of officers and men of the 82nd Division, as well as all U.S. servicemen, to carry forward the fearless spirit of Sergeant York and bravely face all enemies that may threaten the liberal democratic system of the United States.

Earley's speech pushed the "Sergeant York" craze in the United States to the peak. More and more young Americans are expressing their desire to serve in the 82nd Division when they enlist. Some people began to openly call for the 82nd Division to resume the tradition of "all-American division" as soon as possible and to recruit new recruits from all states.

It's really cool for a new recruit like Grant to join the unit where Sergeant York served. Previously, Grant also felt a little depressed because his friend Victor had entered the famous "Rainbow Division" (MacArthur's starting unit), and he could only go to the 82nd Division. Now, he simply loves the "double A" armband on his military uniform.

"Jeff, do you know who has a camera?" Grant can't wait, he wants his relatives and friends back home to know that he is a glorious 82nd Division soldier. "I want to wear this outfit and take a picture and send it back so that my family can see it."

"Take pictures?" Jeff thought for a moment, "I haven't really heard of anyone with a camera. But there have been so many reporters in the camp lately, so you can ask them about it. Maybe someone will be willing to take a picture of it for you. How can you still be in the newspaper? ”

"Great idea, thanks!" Grant said hello to the sergeant major and ran to the camp welfare club, ready to try his luck there.

I don't know if it's Grant's bad luck or if there are too many people who have the same idea as him, but the seven or eight reporters in the welfare club are stunned that no one wants to take pictures of him for free. In the end, he had to pay for two beers for a reporter from the New Orleans Picaone Times to get them to agree to take a photo for him.

The scene of Grant haggling with the reporters happened to be seen by John and Eaton. For the past two days, Colonel Pope has not bothered to find fault with him for the time being, and John has been relieved for two days. After dinner in the evening, he asked Eton to sit at the welfare club, have a drink together, and explain what Miller had reported by the way.

"How often have new recruits come here lately to ask reporters to take pictures?" John asked Eaton as he stared at Grant, who was posing.

"I don't know very well, Pop is personally responsible for everything related to the media, and even Solsen can't intervene." With that, Eaton got up and called Grant, who had just finished taking a photo.

"Private of the second class, your name and company number." John asked

"Grid, Grant. Division, the division belongs to the engineer battalion B, B company. Grant, who had a big round face with a whirring flesh, stood nervously in front of the two senior officers: "Chief, sir, I didn't drink. I'm just here to take a picture, and I've said hello to the sergeant major. ”

"Relax, Grant." John waved his hand, signaling that he was not here to arrest military discipline. "Let me ask you a question, what are you doing taking pictures for?"

"Send it home, sir." Grant breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly explained: "Now that the 82nd Division is so famous, I want the family to see this and make them happy." As he spoke, he pointed to the 82nd Division armband on his left arm.

"It's a good idea. Your family will be proud of you. John handed Grant a cigarette and told him to relax a little more, "Have many people asked reporters to take pictures in the past two days?"

"Many, just now a reporter said that he has already taken photos for more than a dozen people today, and it is not enough to shoot any more films." Grant took the cigarette, but he didn't dare to light it, so he could only hold it in his hand.

John threw the lighter on the table to Grant and asked him a few more questions before patting his arm with satisfaction: "Okay, let's go back." Next time, remember to zip all your pockets. You've got something in here, bulging with all your stuff. (According to the U.S. military dress code, the zipper of the pocket of the clothes must be pulled well, and the contents must not make the pocket bulge.) ）”

"Yes, sir!" Grant hurriedly pulled the zipper of his pocket, saluted, and ran away. He didn't dare let the two chiefs know that he had a large bag of corn chips coming out of the cafeteria in the bulging pocket of his jacket. This is what he intends to eat secretly after the lights go out at night.

After Grant left, John had an idea. "Eaton, what do you think of a photo contest for us? With the platoon as a unit, organize them to take pictures of their own training life, and they can take individual photos or group photos. The good ones can be displayed in the camp, and they can also be sent to the media for publication, and the rest can be washed out for them to send home for Easter. ”

"That's a good idea." Eaton also feels that this helps to improve the understanding among the recruits and increase their sense of collective pride. But he also had a question: "But where do you get so many cameras?" Platoon is a game, at least each company must have a camera. ”

"Last week, the division received 100 Laika cameras, and it was originally planned to give 40 to the reconnaissance team, 10 to the medical battalion, 10 to the engineer battalion, and another 10 to the division headquarters, and the rest to be distributed to the regiments." John counted on his fingers: "And I see that there are not a few officers who have private cameras, which should add up to almost enough." ”

"But not every platoon has people who can use cameras." Another question came to Eaton's mind.

"Even what, there are so many photojournalists around. And they'll certainly be happy to guide. John was sure that once the photo contest started, the journalists would be interested, and it was a rare piece of news material.

"Would you like to say hello to Pop first?" Involving the group of media reporters, Eaton hesitated.

"I'll tell Omar a word about it first, if it works." It was easy for John to distract Pop, and he didn't want to come to him for the time being. "That's right. My adjutant, Lieutenant Miller, has arrived in Alexandria. In the past two days, I asked him to help me with some personal matters first. He will report early the day after tomorrow, and you will help you with the formalities. ”

"No problem, I've been ready for a long time. You can ask him to come directly to the personnel department to find me the day after tomorrow. Eaton patted his chest and reassured.

At this time, Lieutenant Miller was holding a list, worried about a cartload full of boxes and packages.